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Truly Turmeric

In 2014, Umeeda volunteered with CUSO International in Belize to inspire youth to become involved in business. Belize is a beautiful country where 70% of the population is under the age of 29 with high rates of unemployment.

On one of her trips to the Toledo district she met Mr. Fred

In 2014, Umeeda volunteered with CUSO International in Belize to inspire youth to become involved in business. Belize is a beautiful country where 70% of the population is under the age of 29 with high rates of unemployment.

On one of her trips to the Toledo district she met Mr. Fred Williams, a local cacao farmer. His story of his Indian ancestors, who came to the country as indentured slaves over 200 years ago, resonated with Umeeda because her family of Indian ancestry had come to Canada as refugees from Uganda in the 1970s. Mr. Williams took Umeeda on a tour of his farm where turmeric was growing wild - his ancestors had brought it with them to use in traditional medicine and food.